Massaging device



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April 2o 1926.

ATTORNEY: I

Patented pr. 20, 1926i.

"nnLrHfes. THOMPSON, or ymaw YORK, Yav. Y.

.MASSAGING DEvICE,

implicati@ fueaauaeiavieaa serial 35,095.'

ToryapZZ whom it may :concern: l

Be it known thatl, kSr. THoMrson, a citizenoi' the United States, residingin the city, county, and State of' New York, have vinvented l.certain new .and useful Ime .provements in Massaging Devices,fof which the `following is- .a specification.

This invention Arelates to .a massaging device of -thevvibrating type, and has fory its Aobject to provide, a .device as hereinafter set `forth, forlintensifying theactionof the rolling .massage jprinciple in .the reduction of adiposity.

A. further robjectof the invention .is to.

provide, iin :a manner as hereinafter fset forth, .a device of the class referred to, "ins vcluding a body traversing felement .an uneven 'working ta-ce .and ,revolved on lthe manual application of .pressure thereto,land withl the device .further including la vibra- .tion .creating element .actuated from. and `during the travel of -the .traversing f-element yto provide an intermittent .resistance to the Atravel of the traversing element, .thereby settingup a braking laction .to amplify the massage .function .of the device.

A further .object :of .the vinvention'is .to provide, in a manner aslhereina'fter set fort'h, .a device of `the class ,referred 1to, for traversing the human .body and operated on the manual application l.of pressure thereto, and Ywhereby the @massage .function of. the device .is 4ampliedby providing a braking .action at right angles to the direction in which ythe `device is traversing the `:human bod-y.

Into .the sun-face `of `the Adevice is v'molded .a successionoiz re-entering .waves of sufficient prominence `to .reach Adeeply throughy .the

layers of .the skinand exert a .compressing effect .on .adipose tissue ,deposited Aat substantial depth from ,the 4body surface., By virtueothe .inherent resistance to the rota- .tion .of the zdevice, thissimple compression 'is converted :into qakneading massage action. The effectiveness oithis action goodin itself, isenhanced many fold by the vibratingprop- Aertyof they device which firmly percus'ses-the area .may times persecond.

, 'These .complex mechanical actions result in Lphysically dislodging fat molecules from their storage place .as .adipose tissue, in stimulating `an active blood circulation through the treated Tarea, .and vin setting in operation natural processes for the lsubstitutionk of Afirm .muscular tissue in ,place .of the previously l.existing adiposity Further objects of .the invention are to provide, in. a .manner .as hereinafter set lforth, amassaging device, which fis .simple 'in its construction land arrangement, strong, {durable,V compact, `thorough eicientin its use, conveniently operated, readily assembled, .and inexpensive to manufacture.

. `With .the oregoingand other ,objects ,in

view, the invention .consists of .the novel..v

construction, `combination and arrangement .of gparts, Vas 'hereinafter'.more specifically .g'described 'and illustrated Sin .the ,accompany- Ving drawings, wherein Lis shown yanfembodi- ,ment of-.the invention, but 'it fis to "be understood `that changes, variations and modifica- '.tions can "be resorted to which comel within thesco'pe of the claims hereunto appended. In lthe drawings wherein like reference `characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views A of a .massaging device, in accordance with this invention.v i Figure 2 `is a 7fragmentary view, in longitudinall section, of the device upon an enlarged scale. A

Figure 3 is a section .fon line13-3, Figure 2. y 'Referring to the drawings lin detail, Vv1 denotes a cylindrical tube of substantial :length and diameter and constructed of any suitable material, `preferably sheet metal .of the desired gage. One end of 'the tube `1 is closed byV a flangedcap 2, which is 'fiXedly `secured in position, by any suitable means, and is 'formed centrally with a circular open- King 18. "Mounted --inlthe `other end of the .tube A1 is a cup-shaped lmember referred to generallyby-thereference character 4, which constitutes a driving .element and consists of fa cylindrical r`body portion 5, `having a closed outer end l6, and with its inner end open. rThe :body portion 5 snugly engages throughout the inner Jface ofthe *tube l, and

said member ,4 is iixedly secured `to the tube Figure `12is a longitudinal sectional View il, and said -Vend 6, centrally thereof, is provided with a circular opening 8. The edge, at the inner end of the body portion 5, is toothed throughout, as indicated at 9, forming a circular gear rack for a. purpose to be presently referred to.

lhe tube 1 is provided with an uneven resilient working face for traversing the human body when the device is performing its massaging function, and said uneven resilient working face is provided by a sleeve 10 of the same length as the length of the tube 1, as well as completely enclosing the latter and secured therewith in any suitable manner. rillhe outer face of the sleeve 10 can be formcdin any manner to provide its periphery other than plane, and by way of example the outer face of the sleeve 10 is illustrated as formed of lengthwise extending rows of corrugations and with the high and low parts of one row alternately disposed with respect to the high and low parts of an adjacent row, as indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 14. See Figures 1 and 3. The sleeve 10 can be formed of india rubber, sponge rubber of a moderate degree of porosity, or of any other resilient material not easily damaged by salves7 creams or other medical preparations applied to that portion of the body which is to be massaged.

The elements 1, 2, 4 and l() provide what may be termed a body traversing means and is mounted to revolve and is revolved on the manual application of pressure thereto, in a manner as hereinafter referred to.

The traversing element is loosely mounted on a pair of lengthwise aligning spindle members, referred to generally by the reference characters 15, 16. The member 15 consists of a cylindrical portion 17 and a squared portion 18 which is integral with the inner end of the portion 17 and abuts against the inner face of the cap 2. The portion 17 -extends through the opening 3 in the cap 2. rlhe portion 18 is of a length to terminate at a point between the transverse center of the tube 1 and the inner end of the member 4. rlhe spindle member 16 includes a cylindrical portion 19 and a squared portion 20, which abuts against the inner face of the closed end 6 of the member 4. rlhe cylindrical portion 19 extends through the opening 8 formed in the closed end 6 of the member 4. The portion 2O of the spindle member 16 is of materially less length than the portion 18 of the spindle member 15. The inner ends of the portions 18 and 20 oppose and are spaced from each other and further are connected together by a pair of oppositely disposed combined coupling and supporting` elements referred to generally by the reference characters 21, 22, and as each of said elements is of the same construction but onewill be described, as

the description of one will apply to the other. Each of said elements is formed from a flat metallic bar of substantial length, standing on edge, and comprises a pair of oppositely extending end portions 23, 24, a pair of oppositely extending inclined inter-mediate portions 25, 26, and a central portion 27, having an inset part 28 which Vmerges into the outer end of an intermediate portion 26. The outer end of the intermediate portion 25 merges into the non-inset part of the central portion 27 and also into the inner end of an end portion 23. The intermediate portion 26 terminates in the inner end of the other end portion 24. The end portions 23 of said elements are positioned against the sides, at the inner end, of the portion 18 of the spindle member 15 and secured thereto by the transversely extending hold-fast devices 29. The end portions 24 of said elements are positioned against the sides throughout of the portion 20 of the spindle member 16 and are secured thereto by the transversely extending holdfast devices 30. The elements 22, 23 couple the spindle members together and also provide a supporting means for a transmission mechanism for operating a vibration creating means, and the latter and said mechanism will be presently referred to. The portions 17 and 19 of the spindle members project outwardly a substantial distance. respectively from the cap 2 and closed end of the member 4, and each has secured thereon, as well as being enclosed thereby, through the Vmedium of a holdfast device 31, a handle member 32 which abuts against the cap 2 or closed end 6 of the member 4. The spindle members are arranged at the longitudinal axis of the tube 1 and the said members in connection with the supporting elements 22, 23, are prevented from lengthwise shifting with respect to the tube 1, owing to the manner of setting up the portions 17 and 19 of the spindle members and the handle members 32 with respect to the cap 2 and closed end 6 of the member 4. The oset parts 28 of the elements 22, 23, for a portion of their length, extend into the member 4. The intermediate portions 26 and end portions 24 of the elements 22, 23, and the portion 20 of the spindle member 16 are arranged within the member 4.

rlhe transmission mechanism for operating the vibration creating means is operated from the driving element formed by the member 4, and said transmission mechanism comprises a shaft 33 which is journalled in openings 34 formed in the inset parts 28 of the elements 21, 22. The shaft 33 is positioned clear of the inner end of the member 4, but in proximity to the bevelled teeth 9 arranged on the inner edge of the body portion5 of the member 4. The shaft 33 projects outwardly from each inset part 28 and one of its projecting ends carries a bevelled pinion 34, which is in mesh with the teeth 9.

pinion'38, meshing with the gear 36, whereassigne member L is revolved Ybodily therewith, andv during fthe irevo'lving of the member -vtgthe teeth 9 acting on the pinion 34 will revolve the shaft 33 which carries the gear wheel 36 therewith. The gear wheel 36 islrevolved on an 'axis at right angles to the axis of the traversing element.

a'nism comprises a 'revoluble shaft 37, which is journalled in the non-inset parts of the central portions 27 of the elements 22, 23. Fixed to theshaft 37, centrally thereof, is a by on the operation of the latter the shaft 37 will be revolved. The shaft 37 has fxedly secured thereto la pair of spaced vibrating members 39, 40, and each of said 'members is eccentrically mounted on the shaft 37 and is interposed between the pinion 33 and the non-inset part of 'the 'centralA portion of a combined coupling and supporting element.

Each of said members consists -of a weight in the form substantially of a vquarter of a sphere .and with their inner sides slightly inclining in oppositer directions as indicated at 40, 41. The inner side of the 'member 39 is oppositely inclined with respect to 'the inner side'of the member 40 thereby providing a space-between said members 39 and 40 gradually increasing in width from the cen# ter thereof towards each 'end to form a clearance for the gear 36 when the members -139 and 40 are carried with the shaft 37. The weight members 39, 40 and sh-aft 37 extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the `traversing element.

The eccentrically mounted members 39 and i0 provide a resistance to the revolving movement of the traversingelement, the resistance acting as an intermittent braking action and which amplifies or intensifies the massage function of the device. The braking action is at right angles to the direction of travel of the traversing element, or rather at right angles to the axis of the traversing element.

The transmission mechanism provides for v the driving of the shaft 37 at a much higher speed than the revolving movement of the traversing element, and as the members 39 and 40 are mounted eccentrically they tend to impart violent movementsy or shocks to the structure, or in other words create vibration, andwith the shock imparted in a direction at right angles to the direction of travel of the traversing element and which intensifies the massage function.

The vibration creatingmeans or mech The resilient uneven working face of the traversing element l'further lassists 1in intensifying the action ofthe rolling 'massage principle.

The purpose, use and advantages of 'the device, .iin accordance with Athis. invention, have Ebe'en hereinbefore -referred to, and although the Vpreferred embodiment of the invention is I'as illustrated and described, yet it is Ito be understood that changes in the detailsof construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the. invention as claimed.k v

that l claim 'is f a l. yA massaging device for the purpose set forth-'comprising a revoluble traversing ele-r ment A'provided with an uneven resilient Vworking surface, and a vibration creating means-arranged within operatively connected with and driven fromA said elementen the revolving of the 'latter in 'a direction at rightr during 'the traversing of said element, and f meansarranged within said element between the transverse center and one end vthereof for imparting a vibratory ,action during 'the traversing-ofi'said element, said means opera'tively connected with and driven from said element on ythe revolving of the latter.

3. A massaging `device for the purpose set forth comprising a revoluble tubular traversing element providedl with a. resilient working surface, land revoluble means ar'- ranged 'within said element for creating a vibratory action on the revolving' of said element, Asaid mea-ns operatively connected with y'and driven from Vsaifdelement and revolving ina-direction at right angles tothe axis of said element.

4E. Aimassaging device for thepurpose set forth ycomprising a revoluble traversing element -and means arranged within operatively vconnected with-said element, said means driven from said element on the revolving thereof for creating a vibratory action, said means operating in a direction at right angles to the axis of the traversing element.`

5. A massaging device comprising a body traversing element in the form of a tubular structure of substantial length, manually engageable means projecting from each end of said structure for it, and means connected to said manually engageable means opergageable means projecting from each end yof said structure for revolving it and means connected to said manually engageable means operatively connected With andA arranged vithin said structure and driven therefrom on the revolving of the structure to provide successive vibration during the travel of said element, the said means for providing successive vibrations including a driven shaftv extending at right angles to the axis of said structure.

7. massaging device comprising a body traversing` element in the form of a tubular structure of substantial length, manually engageable means projecting from each end of said structure for revolvingIl it, means connected to said manually engageable means operatively connected 'with and arranged Within said structure and driven therefrom on the revolving of the structure to provide successive viliirations during the travel of said element, and said structure provided With an uneven resilient Working face contacting With the surface over which said structure traverses.

e. L massi Qing Ppvice for the purpose set forth comprising YYvoluble traversing element formed of tubular structure, means extending from each end of said structure for manually revolving it, said struct-ure loosely mounted on said means, a shaft arranged Within said structure and supported by said means, a pair of Weight members carried by said shaft and eccentrically connected thereto, and means arranged Within said structure, operatively connected therewith and driven therefrom and operatively engaging with said shaft for revolving it during the travel of said structure thereby providing` for said Weight members to create successive vibrations during the travel of the structure.

9. A massaging device for the purpose set forth comprising a manually revoluble hollow roller, a driving element secured therein at one end thereof, a pair of spaced spindle members, one having one end of said roller revolving thereon and the other having said element revolving thereon, a'pair of oppositely disposed combined coupling and supporting elements secured to the inner ends of said members, a vibrating mechanism revolubly mounted in said supporting elements, and a transmission mechanism revolubly mounted in said supporting elements, operatively connected With and driven from said driving element and having a driving connection With said vibrating meciianism.

l0. A massaging device for the purpose set forth comprising a manually revoluble holloiv roller, a driving element secured therein at one end thereof, a pair of spacing spindle members, one having one end of said roller revolving thereon and the other having said element revolving thereon, a pair of oppositely disposed combined coupling and supporting elements scoured to the innerends of said members, a vibrating mechanism revolubly mounted in said supporting elements, a transmission mechanism revolubly mounted in said supporting elements, operatively connected with and driven from said driving element and having a driving con nection With said vibrating mechanism, and said vibrating mechanism including a pair of spaced, eccentrically mounted Weight niiembers each substantially in the form of a quarter of a sphere.

llfrir massaging device forv the purpose set forth comprising a manually propelled hollow cylindrical roller, a revoluble shaft arranged diametrically thereof, a pair of spaced Weight members eccentrically fixed to said shaft and each substantially in the form of a quarter of a sphere, means arranged Within operatively connected With and driven from the roller for revolving said shaft during the propelling of the roller, and supporting means common to said roller, shaft and driving means.

ln testimony whereof, I afliX my signature hereto.

RALPH S. THOMPSON. 

